Aitto matic train-stop mechanism



R. J. KAUCH.

AUTOMATIC-TRAIN STOP MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.19, 191a.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

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WITNESSES IN l/E/V 70/? ATTOR Y M: uwms FEYIIS ca. rnoIu-uvna. IAsnlncmn R. J. KAUCH.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOP MECHANISM.

APPUCATlON FILED APR. I9, 1913.

1,193,022. Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

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ATTORNEY.

R. J. KAUCH.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOP MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. i9|3.

1 1 93,022 Patentd Aug. 1, 1916.

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ROBERT J. KAUCH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-STOP MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

Application filed April 19, 1913. Serial No. 762,372.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT J. KAUCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Automatic Train-Stop Mech-' anism, whereof the following is a specific-a tion, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

It is the object of my invention to provide means whereby a train may be automatically stopped, when in danger, without the action of the engineer; such means being operatively related to the steam throttle and air brake valve of a train propelled by a steam motor, or operatively related to the electric motor and brake controlling means of a train propelled by an electric motor.

As hereinafter described my invention includes a spring motor, a detent and releasing mechanism for the same, carried by the train in operative connection with devices for controlling the train; said releasing mechanism including a tappet member projecting from the train arranged to be tripped by an adjustable obstacle adjacent the track traversed by the train; said tripping obstacle being automatically shifted to operative and inoperative position by means operatively connected with a danger signal and with said track, or either; so that displacement of said signal or track causes said obstacle to assume its operative position to encounter said tappet member projecting from the train to release the spring motor and thus shift the controlling means carried by the train to stop the latter.

As hereinafter described my invention includes the combination with a motor vehicle having controlling means; of a spring motor, carried by said vehicle, operatively connected with said controlling means; a detent for said spring motor; releasing mechanism for said detent including a tappet lever projecting from said vehicle; a track for said vehicle; tripping mechanism for said lever, adjacent said track, including a tripping obstacle plunger; a magnet coil operatively related to said plunger; means arranged to energizesaid coil to move said obstacle to and from operative position; electric switch means arranged to render said coil operative and inoperative; a semaphore operatively connected with said switch means, arranged to move the latter to operative position when said semaphore is moved to indicate danger; means connecting said track with said switch means arranged to move the latter to operative position when sa d track is displaced; a frame supporting said 0011; another tripping obstacle plunger mounted to reciprocate in said frame; and means whereby the latter plunger may be manually operated, including a lever fulcrumed in said frame and a slide bar connected with said lever.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In the drawings; Figure I is a diagrammatic view showing certain essential elements of my invention in cooperative relation. Fig. II is a side elevation of the tripping mechanism which is stationary with respect to the track and includes electrically and manually operative obstacles. Fig. III is an elevation of the mechanism carried by the motor vehicle of the train, including the controlling devices, the spring motors for operating them when released, and the connecting and releasing mechanism. Fig. IV is an outside view of the spring motor, detent and releasing mechanism shown at the right side of Fig. III. Fig. V is a frag m-entary sectional elevation of a semaphore and electric switch connected therewith; said switch being a modified form of the switch shown in connection with the semaphore in Fig. I. Fig. VI shows a portion of the track with an electric switch operatively connected therewith; said switch being a modified form of the switch shown in connection with the track in Fig. I.

Referring to Fig. I; the mechanism carried by the motor vehicle includes the spring motor 1 having the detent 2 and releasing tappet lever 3, projecting from said vehicle. Said motor has the shaft 5 connected by the bevel gear 6 and 7 with the stem 8 of the controlling lever 9, which may be the throttle lever of a steam motor or the handle of an electric controller. Said shaft 5 also has the gear 10 engaging the rack 11 which is operatively connected with the brake lever 12.

The track 15 for said vehicle has adjacent thereto the tripping obstacle plunger 16 with the solenoid magnet coil 17 in operative relation therewith. Said abutment 16 also has means whereby it may be manually operated, including the lever 18 and the slide bar 19 connected therewith. Said coil 17 is included in the circuit with' the electric generator 21 and electric switch means arranged to render said coil operative and inoperative, including the switch lever 23 operatively connected with the semaphore 24, arranged to be moved to operative position, to close said circuit, when said semaphore is moved to indicate danger as shown. Said switch means also includes the switch lever 26 operatively connected with said track 15 by the rod or wire 27 arranged to move said switch lever to operative position, to close said circuit, when said track is displaced.

Fig. II shows a modified form of the tripping mechanism indicated in Fig. I, including two obstacle plungers 30 respectively operatively connected with the solenoid cores 31 and solenoid magnet coils 32 which are conveniently mounted in the frame 33 with another tripping obstacle plunger 35 having means whereby it may be manually operated, including the bell crank lever 36 fulcrumed at 37 in said frame, and the slide bar 38 connected with said lever.

Fig. III shows a modified form of the spring motor mechanism and appurtenances indicated in Fig. I, including two spring motors 40 respectively upon opposite sides of the motor vehicle and having shafts 41 with bevel gears 42 engaging bevel gears 43 on the shafts 45 having crown clutches 46 with respectively oppositely inclined notches 47 therein for engagement with the spring pressed latches 48 of the clutch members 49 on the shafts 50 which have the gears 52 engaging the gear 53 on the shaft 54.

It is to be understood that the arrangement above described is such that said shaft 54 may be driven by either of said spring motors 40 operating through either of said crown clutches 46 while the other remains stationary, with its opposed clutch member 49 idly rotating and its latch 48 slipping into and out of the notch 47 in the temporarily stationary clutch 46. Each of said motors 40 includes a spring 56 secured at its outer end to the motor casing 57, as indicated in Fig. IV, and at its inner end to the flange 58 on the motor shaft 41 which is conveniently squared at its outer end to form a wrench hold by which said spring may be manually wound in the direction of the arrow in Fig. IV. It may be observed that during the winding movement of said motor the crown clutch 46 is turned in the direction opposite to that in which it is adapted to drive the opposed clutch 49, so

that the latter remains stationary during such winding operation. Each of said motor shafts 41 is provided with a detent de vice including a ratchet wheel 60 and a pivoted detent pawl 61. As shown in Fig. IV said pawl is fulcrumed at 62 on a stud projecting from the motor casing and carries on its arm 63 the tappet lever 64 which is connected therewith by the knuckle joint 65; so that said tappet lever may be moved idly to the right without operating said detent, but operates the latter when moved in the opposite direction. Another tappet lever 67 is connected. by its arm 68, with said tappet lever arm 63, the bifurcated end of said lever arm 68 embracing the stud 70 on said lever arm 63. Said tappet lever 67 is fulcrumed at 72 on stud projecting from said motor casing and has the knuckle joint 73 arranged to operate in a direction opposite to the direction of operation of the knuckle joint 65 aforesaid. That is to say said tappet lever 67 may be moved to the left without operating said detent 61 but operates the latter when moved in the opposite direction. The spring pressed plun ger 75 is arranged to hold said detent in inoperative position, when released, by pressing upon the arm 76 of said detent. Said plunger 75 is normally held in the retracted inoperati e position, shown in Fig. IV, by the trigger 78 which engages the notch 79 insaid plunger but is pivoted at 80 on the plunger casing 81 and extends in opposition to the projection 83 at theupper end of said detent lever 64 so that said trigger is released by said detent when the latter is released. It is to be understood that the arrangement above described is such that said detent 61 may be released by one or the other of said tappet trip levers 64 or 67 in accordance with the direction of travel of the motor vehicle with respect to an obstacle adapted to encounter them. and, when either of said spring motors 40 is set in operation by the release of its detent lever 61 it causes said shaft 54 to turn in the direction of the arrow marked thereon, in Fig. III. Said shaft 54 has the bevel gear 86 engaging the bevel gear 87 on the shaft 88 having the bevel gear 89 engaging the bevel gear 90 on the stem 91 of the controlling lever 92 which may be the throttle lever of a steam motor or the handle of an electric controller. It may be observed that said stem 91 is made in two separate sections, the lower section having the spindle 93 extending in a socket in the upper section and the respective sections having sectoral portions 95 and 96 with circumferential spaces between them so that said lever 92 may be moved by hand throughout its operative range without encountering the sector 95 which remains stationary in connection with the spring motor driving mechanism; but that when the said spring motor mechanism is operated to turn said stem J1 the sector thereof encounters the sector 96 and turns the handle 92 throughout its operative range. Said shaft 54 has at the lower end thereof the bevel gear 98 engaging the bevel gear 99 on the shaft 100 which has the gear 101 engaging the rack 102 which is mounted to reciprocate in the frame 103 and carries the block of insulating material 104 supporting a pair of switch blades 105 respectively electrically connected with binding posts 106. Said blades 105 are respectively arranged to make electrical contact with two spring terminals 108 which are respectively electrically connected with two binding posts 109; the arrangement being such that said switch members constitute a double pole switch which is closed in the position shown in Fig. III but which may be opened by either of said spring motors -10 when they are released as above described. It is to be understood that said electric switch may be the controlling device for the electric motor and 1 Take controlling means of a train propelled by an electric motor.

Fig. V illustrates a more elaborate form of semaphore electric switch mechanism than is indicated in Fig. I, including the lever 112 carried by the rock shaft 113 which is journaled in the switch casing 114 and has the arm 116 pivotally connected with the pendent terminal 117 which is lowered into the mercury bath 118 when the semaphore 120 is raised to indicate danger as shown. so as to close the electric circuit including the conductors 121 and 122 which are respec tively connected with said bath 11S and with said casing 114.

Fig. VI illustrates a more elaborate form of the track switch mechanism than is indicated in Fig. I, including the wire or rod 124 which is conveniently secured to the track by clips 125 held by the bolts which secure the fishplate 126. Said rod 124 is pivotally connected at 128 to the switch hook lever 129 which is fulcrumed at 130 on the switch casing 131. Said hook lever 129 normally holds, in inoperative position, the switch lever 132 which is carried by the rock shaft 134 which has the arm 135 pivotally connected with the pendent terminal me which is lowered into the mercury bath 137 when said switch lever 132 is released, the latter being overbalanced by the weighted arm 13$) on said rock shaft. It is to be unde tood that displacement of the track 15 shown in Fig. VI causes the rod 124 to dis engage said hook lever 129 and close the circuit between the electric conductors 140 and 141 which are respectively connected with said mercury bath 137 and said switch casing 131.

It is to be understood that the electric switch means shown in Figs. V and VI may be employed to close the circuit of a magnet coil, such as the coils 17 or 32 above described, to set a movable obstacle, such as the plunger-s 16 or 30, in position to trip spring motor releasing mechanism carried by the motor vehicle, as above contemplated.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 2- 1. The combination with a motor vehicle having controlling means; of a spring motor, carried by said vehicle, operative] y connected with said controlling means, and having a shaft; a detent device for said motor, including a ratchet wheel on said shaft and a pivoted pawl detent engaged therewith; rcleasing mechanism for said detent including a tappet lever connected therewith by a knuckle joint whereby said tappet lever may be moved idly in one direction without operating said detent but operates the latter when moved in the opposite direction; another tappet lever connected with said detent and having a knuckle joint arranged to operate in a direction opposite to the direction of operation of the first named knuckle joint; a spring pressed plunger arranged to hold said detent in inoperative position when released; and a trigger arranged to engage said spring pressed plunger in retracted, inoperative position; said trigger being arranged to be released by said detent when the latter is released; whereby said detent may be released by one or the other of said tappets in accordance with the direction of travel of said vehicle with respect to an obstaclc adapted to encounter them.

2. The combination with a motor vehicle having controlling means; of a spring motor, carried by said vehicle. opcratively connected with said controlling mcans. and having a shaft; a detent device fol said motor, including a ratchet wheel on said shaft and a pivoted pawl detent engaged therewith: releasing mechanism for said detent including a tappet lever connected therewith by a knuckle joint whereby said tappet lever may be moved idly in one direction without operating said detent but operates the latter when moved in the opposite direction; another tappet lever connected with said detent and having a knuckle joint arranged to operate in a direction opposite to the direction of operation of the first named knuckle joint; and a spring pressed plunger arranged to hold said detent in inoperative position when released; whereby said detent may be released by one or the other of said tappets in accordance with the direction of travel of said vehicle with respect to an obstacle adapted to encounter them.

3. The combination with a motor vehicle having controlling means; of a spring motor, carried by said vehicle, operatively connected with said controlling means, and hav ing a shaft; a detent device for said motor, including a ratchet wheel on said shaft and a pivoted pawl detent engaged therewith; releasing mechanism for said detent including a tappet lever connected therewith by a knuckle joint whereby said tappet lever may be moved idly in one direction without operating said detent but operates the latter when moved in the opposite direction; and another tappet lever connected with said detent and having a knuckle joint arranged to operate in a direction opposite to the di rection of operation of the first named knuckle joint; whereby said detent may be released by one or the other of said tappets in accordance with the direction of travel of said vehicle with respect to an obstacle adapted to encounter them.

4. The combination with a motor vehicle having controlling means; of a spring motor carried by said vehicle, operatively connected with said controlling means, and having a shaft; a detent device for said motor; releasing mechanism for said detent including a tappet lever connected therewith by a knuckle joint whereby said tappet lever may be moved idly in one direction without operating said detent but operates the latter when moved in the opposite direction; another tappet lever connected with said detent and having a knuckle joint arranged to operate in a direction opposite to the direction of operation of the first named knuckle joint; a spring pressed plunger arranged to hold said detent in inoperative position when released; a trigger arranged to engage said spring pressed plunger in retracted, inoperative position; said trigger being arranged to be released by said detent when the latter is released; whereby said detent may be released by one or the other of said tappets in accordance with the direction of travel of said vehicle with respect to an obstacle adapted to encounter them.

5. The combination with a motor vehicle having controlling means; of a spring motor, carried by said vehicle, operatively connected with said controlling means, and having a shaft; a detent device for said motor; releasing mechanism for said detent including a tappet lever connected therewith by a knuckle joint whereby said tappet lever may be moved idly in one direction without operating said detent but operates the latter when moved in the opposite direction; another tappet lever connected with said detent and having a knuckle joint arranged to operate in a direction opposite to the direction of operation of the first named knuckle joint; and a spring pressed plunger arranged to hold said detent in inoperative position when released; whereby said detent may be released by one or the other of said tappets in accordance with the direction of travel of said vehicle with respect to an obstacle adapted to encounter them.

6. The combination with a motor vehicle having controlling means; of a spring mo tor, carried by said vehicle, operatively connected with said controlling means, and having a shaft; a detent device for said motor; releasing mechanism for said detent including a tappet lever connected therewith by a knuckle joint whereby said tappet lever may be moved idly in one direction without op erating said detent but operates the latter when moved in the opposite direction; and another tappet lever connected with said detent and having a knuckle joint arranged to operate in a direction opposite to the direction of operation of the first named knuckle joint; whereby said detent may be released by one or the other of said tappets in accordance with the direction of travel of said vehicle with respect to an ob stacle adapted to encounter them.

7. The combination With a motor vehicle having controlling means including a lever; of means arranged to automatically operate said lever including a stem coincident with the aXis of said lever; two trains of gearing operatively connected with said stem and each including a clutch arranged to transmit motion to said stem when turned in one direction and to be idle when turned in the opposite direction; the direction of operation of said clutches being respectively opposite; respective spring motors operatively connected with said gear trains; detents for said motors; and releasing mechanism for said detents including means projecting from said Vehicle.

8. The combination with a motor vehicle having controlling means including a lever; of means arranged to automatically operate said lever including a stem coincident with the axis of said lever; two trains of gearing operatively connected with said stem and each including a clutch arranged to transmit motion to said stem when turned in one direction and to be idle when turned in the opposite direction; the direction of operation of said clutches being respectively opposite; means arranged to respectively operate said gear trains including members projecting from respectively opposite sides of said vehicle.

9. The combination with a motor vehicle having controlling means; of a shaft operatively connected with said controlling means; two motors respectively upon oppocooperative relation With said tappet levers. site sides of the vehicle; means operatively In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 1) connecting said two motors in common with signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsyl said shaft; detent devices for the respective vania, this 17th day of April, 1913.

' motors; releasing mechanism for said detent ROBERT J. KAUCH.

devices, including respective tappet levers; Witnesses: and track obstacles, upon respectively op- ARTHUR E. PAIGE, posite sides of the track, and respectively in ANNA IsRAELITz.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

